In The Margins
In The Margins Project
As part of the HERE WE ARE programme, in this project our lead artist Jon Adams will collaborate with DAISY member organisations to create interventions within Redhill Library this Autumn, prior to its renovation in the new year.
‘In the Margins’ aims to empower marginalised disabled individuals and amplify their life experiences by utilising different sections of the library as platforms for storytelling and dialogue. By engaging and framing the project around library categories such as ‘travel’, ‘health’, ‘Romance’ and the ‘Childrens’ area, this project will tell their life stories in reference to the Library areas. Visitors will go on a journey through the library sections, discovering and exploring these stories through small and large scale interventions to foster understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
About The Project
Designed and created by Jon Adams in collaboration with the DAiSY member organisations, these interventions and artworks will be both large, to fill spaces or walls in Redhill Library, as well as small and discrete, hidden in books or tucked away to be discovered. These artworks will tell the stories of our marginalised artists and lead visitors on a journey around the library.
The project is supported as part of the HERE WE ARE Project, funded by Arts Council England.
About Redhill Library
At Surrey Libraries, we see the benefits of libraries as performance, workshop and exhibition spaces, extending the reach and accessibility of cultural engagement to the public. Not only do we offer access to resources for free, but we are also extending our spaces to become cultural venues.
Redhill Library is one of our Library Plus branches, with opening hours across 6 days of the week (Monday to Saturday). It is in the Quadrant opposite the Harlequin theatre in the heart of Redhill town centre.
About the Member Organisations
Art Matters
Established in 1995, Art Matters is a community arts studio and centre of wellbeing, mindfulness and growth, aiming to connect communities and provide creative pathways to recovery. The studio offers a person-centred and supportive environment, in which service users are encouraged to explore their creativity, curiosity, and develop new skills and confidence, working as artists alongside experienced and creative staff and volunteers.
Bloomin’ Arts
Bloomin’ Arts is driven by the voice of adults with disabilities to provide high quality opportunities in the creative arts. Each individual develops their artistic talents and builds valuable connections with our local and artistic community. Independence and physical, social and emotional wellbeing is our aim.
Orpheus
Orpheus is an independent specialist college in Surrey that increases the confidence and skills of young disabled adults through the performing arts. We believe that every young disabled person should have the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. We offer a holistic learning programme, a supported housing scheme and a domiciliary support service.
Lead Artist: Jon Adams
Jon is both a contemporary artist, Autistic advocate and researcher. He makes a variety of work in many differing media often referencing his Autism, Synaesthesia and Dyslexia, all interwoven with history, science, time and his past experiences. He’s shown in galleries such as Royal Academy, Tate Modern and been commissioned by many arts and science organisations including projects for Parliament, London 2012, the Autism Research Centre Cambridge and to perform his work on stage. He advocates for the rights of Neurodivergent people to fully access the arts, funding, health care and to coproduce relevant research.
You can follow Jon on Instagram @CorvidDrawingJon
